“It is not my fault. The Russians are treating me very unjustly.” Gilbert shut his teeth hard. “I’ve got a score to settle with them for it.”

“I ton’t vos plame you. Put I can’t say noddings. Of I do, I got me into droubles, hey?”

“I reckon so.” Gilbert Paused and glanced around the room. “I may as well be going now. Good-by, and much obliged for what you have done for me.”

The light was put out, and the pair passed again into the dark hallway, Herr Schaumberg having left the lights unlit on purpose. Gilbert now carried his bag, which was by no means light in weight.

The back stairs were just gained, when there came sounds from the main room of the hotel. Some new arrival had just come in. Leaving Gilbert, Herr Schaumberg ran to the front stairway, and glanced down to the floor below.

“Dere vos some Roossian soldiers dare!” he whispered, as he came running back. “You vos besser get owid kvick!”

“I will,” answered Gilbert. “Good-by. Don’t say anything about me.” And in another instant he was descending the back stairs two steps at a time.

[Pg 75]

[Pg 75]

All might have gone well with the ex-lieutenant had not something occurred upon which neither he nor Herr Schaumberg had calculated. Sneaking into the back door of the hotel at that moment was one of the servants, who had gone out for a walk unknown to her master or mistress.

As Gilbert landed at the foot of the stairs he came upon the girl with a suddenness that sent her flying against a kitchen door. The breath was almost knocked out of her, yet she immediately let out a yell of terror.

“Help! help!” she screamed in German. “Help! Who is this? A robber!”

“Excuse me,” murmured Gilbert. “Sorry, but I didn’t see you,” and, slipping past the girl, he opened the door into the courtyard.

“A robber! A robber!” shrieked the girl, and continued to cry out until she had aroused the whole household. All came running to the spot, and with them the Russian soldiers that had just arrived.

“Vot is it, Bena?” questioned Herr Schaumberg, although he knew only too well.

“A robber!” wailed the girl. “He knocked me down! He wanted to murder me!”

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